Erection and retraction mechanism for a foldable antenna and its mast

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed herein a mechanism to erect and retract a foldable antenna and its mast for use in a submarine antenna buoy. A first sheave is fixed to the mast and buoy base in a rotating relation to the mast and in a non-rotating relation to the buoy base and a second sheave is carried as a rotational component upon the antenna mast but affixed as non-rotating with respect to the antenna array. The first sheave is made twice the diameter of the second sheave and a band interconnects the peripheries of the sheaves. A drive mechanism is provided to drive the antenna mast such that, when the antenna mast is rotated 90* clockwise, the second sheave would then be rotated 180* counterclockwise about its axis to unfold the antenna so as to be vertical with respect to the buoy base and in line with the mast. A similar band interconnecting the peripheries sheaves opposite the first periphery connections would cause a positive reversal of this process. With this mechanism, a positive erection and positive retraction can be obtained through driven members under efficient tensile loading. A cable, a chain, and a toothed belt can be used instead of the bands and drums and sprockets can be used instead of the sheaves.

United States Patent [191 Majkrzak [45] July 22, 1975 ERECTION AND RETRACTION MECHANISM FOR A FOLDABLE ANTENNA AND ITS MAST Charles P. Majkrzak, Nutley, NJ.

[73] Assignee: International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation, Nutley, NJ.

[22] Filed: Apr. 22, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 462,825

[75] Inventor:

Primary Examiner-Eli Lieberman Attorney, Agent, or Firm--John T. OHalloran; Menotti J. Lombardi, Jr.; Alfred C. Hill [57] ABSTRACT There is disclosed herein a mechanism to erect and retract a foldable antenna and its mast for use in a submarine antenna buoy. A first sheave is fixed to the mast and buoy base in a rotating relation to the mast and in a non-rotating relation to the buoy base and a second sheave is carried as a rotational component upon the antenna mast but affixed as non-rotating with respect to the antenna array. The first sheave is made twice the diameter of the second sheave and a band interconnects the peripheries of the sheaves. A drive mechanism is provided to drive the antenna mast such that, when the antenna mast is rotated 90 clockwise, the second sheave would then be rotated 180 counterclockwise about its axis to unfold the antenna so as to be vertical with respect to the buoy base and in line with the mast. A similar band interconnecting the peripheries sheaves opposite the first periphery connections would cause a positive reversal of this process. With this mechanism, a positive erection and positive retraction can be obtained through driven members under efficient tensile loading. A cable, a chain, and a toothed belt can be used instead of the bands and drums and sprockets can be used instead of the sheaves.

46 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures mmgmum I915 3' 896, 447

SHEET 1 SHEA vs DRUM OR SPROCK-r AFF/XED r0 ANT'A/NA ARRAY BUOY HULL y l ERECTION AND RETRACTION MECHANISM FOR A FOLDABLE ANTENNA AND ITS MAST BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an antenna arrangement associated with a submarine antenna buoy and more particularly to a mechanism to erect and retract a foldable antenna and its mast which is contained on the submarine buoy.

Such prior art erection and retraction mechanisms employ the force of a precompressed erecting spring to erect the antenna when the antenna winch releases a restraining cable. The retraction of the antenna into its retracted position from its erected position is provided by a retracting winch. As the physical load of the antenna system is increased because of upgraded communication requirements, all of the associated actuating members in the linkage system must correspondingly increase in their size and weight causing a rapid increase in the size and weight of the required erecting spring to account for the increased loading. Since this linkage system is restricted by hydrodynamic considerations to extremely short moment arms and relies upon a long slender rod under high compression in the erection mode, the components are subject to extremely high stresses at the joints and the rod must be abnormally large or encased to prevent its buckling. Furthermore, the erecting spring must also provide adequate force to assure adequate stability in the erected antenna. As a result, then, the greater the required overall spring force, the greater will be the torque and power requirements on the winch and, in turn, its size and weight.

A disadvantage of the existing foldable antenna system is its complexity and the fact that it does not readily lend itself to necessary upgrading for accepting envisioned increased loadings. The use of a costly submersible winch with its inherent problems, the reliance on a compression spring for antenna erection that very rapidly grows in size and weight with increasing antenna load, and the use of a folding linking system that inherently subjects its members to extremely high stress level under the projected load configuration seems to be unreliable and impractical.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an erection and retractionmechanism for a foldable antenna and its mast that will overcome the disadvantages of the now existent erectionand retraction mechanisms for such an antenna.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism to erect and retract the foldable antenna and its mast that has positive erection and retraction,

eliminates a linkage system bordering on the impractical for upgraded load requirements and offers a simple and reliable design that is readily reproduced by normal manufacturing techniques.

A feature of the present invention is the provision of a mechanism to erect and retract a foldable antenna and its mast with respect to a base structure comprising: an antenna; an antenna mast; a U-shaped member secured to the base structure, the open end of the U- shaped member extending away from the base structure; a first shaft extending through the legs of the U- shaped member and the bottom of the mast, the first shaft being connected to the bottom of the mast to prevent the first shaft from rotating relative to the bottom of the mast; a first pair of disc-like members secured to and rotatable upon the first shaft, each of the first pair of disc-like members being connected to a different one of the legs of the U-shaped member; a second shaft extending through the top of the mast and the bottom of the antenna; a second pair of disc-like members secured to the second shaft and the bottom of the antenna, the second pair of disc-like members being nonrotatable about the second shaft; a first pair of force transmitting members interconnecting the first and second pair of disc-like members for rotation of the second pair of disc-like members in a first given direction; a second pair of force transmitting members interconnecting the first and second pair of disc like members for rotation of the second pair of disc-like members in a second given direction opposite to the first given direction; and drive means connected to the first shaft to drive the shaft for control of the erection and retraction of the antenna mast and the antenna.

Still another feature of the present invention is to provide as the base structure of the above-mentioned erecting and retracting mechanism a portion of the hull of a submarine antenna buoy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention will become more apparent by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front cross-sectional view partially in elevation of the antenna and its mast in its fully erected position and the erection and retraction mechanism according to the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the antenna, antenna mast and part of the erection and retraction mechanism as illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a graphical representation of the operation of the erection and retraction mechanism in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of one embodiment of the drive arrangement for driving the erection and retraction mechanism in accordance with the principles of the present invention with the antenna and antenna mast in its fully retracted position;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view partially in block diagram form of a second embodiment of a drive arrangement for the erection and retraction mechanism in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the drive arrangement of a third embodiment for the erection and retraction mechanism in accordance with the present invention with the antenna and its mast in a partially retracted or erected condition; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a fourth embodiment of the drive arrangement for the erection and retraction mechanism in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 there is illustrated therein the erection and retraction mechanism in accordance with the principles of the present invention with FIGS. 1 and 2 showing the antenna 1 and antenna mast 2 in its fully erected condition. A U-shaped member 3 is secured to a base structure, such as buoy hull 4. As illustrated member 3 has the open end of the U- shape directed outwardly from hull 4. A first shaft 5 extends through the legs 6 and 7 of U-shaped member 3 and through the bottom of mast 2. Shaft 5 can rotate with respect to legs 6 and 7 of the U-shaped base member 3 but is fixed in a non-rotating relation with respect to the bottom of mast 2 by pins 8. A first pair of disclike members 9 and 10 are secured to shaft 5 with each one of the disc-like members 9 and 10 being connected for non-rotation with respect to the base member 3 by means of pins 11 and 12, respectively.

A second shaft 13 extends through the top of mast 2 and through the bottom of antenna 1. A second pair of disc-like members 14 and 15 are secured to second shaft 13 and are also secured to the bottom of antenna 1 by means of pins 16 and 17, respectively.

' A first pair of force transmitting members 18 and 19 interconnect each of the pairs of disc-like members 9 and 10 and 14 and 15. Force transmitting member 18 as illustrated interconnects disc-like members 9 and 14 and force transmitting member 19 interconnects disclike members 10 and 15. A second pair of force transmitting members hidden by force transmitting members 18 and 19 in FIG. 1 are provided to interconnect the .two'pairs of disc-like members 14 and 15 and 9 and l0 at a point on these disc-like members. One of the force'transmitting members, such as member 20 (FIG. 2), interconnects disc-like members 10 and 15 and a hidden force transmitting member interconnects disclike members 9 and 14.

A drive arrangement is connected to the first shaft to drive the shaft for control of the erection and retraction of the antenna mast and the antenna. The drive arrangement includes a disc-like member 21 secured to shaft 5 as a non-rotatable member with respect thereto.

The disc-like members 9, 10, 14 and 15 may be sheaves, drums or sprockets while the force transmitting members 18, 19, 20 and the hidden force transmitting member, hidden by force transmitting member 18 (FIG. 1) may be bands, cables, chains or toothed belts.

In accordance with one embodiment of the drive arrangement there is provided in a secured relationship to shaft 5 a cable-wrapped actuating disc 21 to which one end of an erecting cable 38 is attached as shown in FIG. 4. One end of an erecting spring 42 is affixed to the buoy base 4 and the other end to the free end of the erecting cable 38. Energy is stored in the elongating spring 42 during the wrapping of cable 38 upon actuating disc 21 when the antenna mast and the antenna is retracted by the winch cable 39. Upon release of winch cable 39, the stored energy in the erecting spring 42 causes the erecting cable 38 to unwrap from and to rotate the actuating disc 21 which, in turn, erects the antenna mast and the antenna.

The graphical representation in FIG. 3 illustrates the manner of operation of the erection mechanism of FIGS. 1 and 2. Two sheaves 9 and 14 are shown in FIG. 3 and is used only for purposes of explanation, it being remembered that these sheaves are duplicated in the actual mechanism as illustrated in FIG. 1, sheave 9 and its counterpart sheave 10 and sheave l4 and its counterpart sheave 15 in FIG. 1. Sheave 9 and its counterpart sheave 10 is made to have twice the diameter as sheave 14 and its counterpart sheave 15. With a band 19 interconnecting the perph iies of sheaves 9 and 14 as shown in FIG. 3 and when shaft 5 is driven, antenna mast 2 is rotated 90 clockwise about the axis of shaft 5. Due to this rotation of mast 2 sheave 14 will rotate 180 counterclockwise about the axis of shaft 13 to unfold antenna 1 so as to be vertical with respect to buoy base member 3 and in line with mast 2. A similar band, suchas band 20, interconnecting sheaves 9 and 14 on the periphery thereof would cause a positive reversal of this process. It is in this manner that positive erection and positive retraction can be had through driven members under the efficient tensile loading of members l8, 19, 20 and the hidden force transmitting member.

Referring now to FIG. 5 there is illustrated therein a second embodiment of a practical arrangement for driving the disc-like member 21 in the form of gear 40 of FIG. 5 so as to drive shaft 5 to cause the erection of mast 2 and antenna 1 as described hereinabove. The drive unit includes a bearing block 22 with a spline 23 disposed as illustrated in bearing block 22. Thrust bearings 24 and 25 are disposed at each end of the spline in contacting relation with the adjacent surface of bearing block 22. A drive worm gear 26 is disposed on the spline intermediate thrust bearings 24 and 25. The gear 21 is a driven worm gear and will be meshed with'the drive worm gear 26 for rotation thereof in the desired manner. A drive shaft 27 is connected to spline 23 and a submersible drive package 28 causes shaft 27 to rotate which in turn rotates spline 23 then gear 26 and, hence, gear 21 which drives shaft 5. Submersible drive package 28 includes a drive motor 29, a brake 30, re duction gearing 31, limit switching 32 and a rotary seal 33.

As mentioned actuating gear 21 is affixed to shaft 5 which rotates the mast through its and upon which disc-like members 9 and 10 are mounted but held affixed to buoy base 3. Gear 21 can be easily and practically operated to erect the antenna and its mast by employing gear 21 as a worm gear that can be operated through its required 90 travel through a worm driven gear 26 by a submersible drive package 28. Drive package 28 would replace the erecting spring and the winch/cable system of the first embodiment of the antenna erecting and retracting mechanism described in FIG. 4. With the worm gear 26 mounted upon a drive spline 23, the worm gear 26 could be made movable in axial displacement and when properly spring loaded by springs 34 and 35 would adsorb wave slap upon the antenna in the forward and aft direction during tow.

The drive arrangement of FIG. 5 may be replaced by the drive arrangement of FIG. 6 which includes 'a driven disc-like member 37 driven through means of bands, chains, cables or toothed belts 38 and 39 to drive a disc-like member 21" which is securedto shaft 5 in place of disc-like member 21. The force transmitting members 38 and 39 would include therein wave slap shock absorbers 41 and 42 in the form of springs. Each of members 37 and 40 could take the form of a sheave, drum or sprocket as indicated in FIG. 6.

Referring to FIG. 7 there is shown still a fourth embodir'nent of the drive arrangement for the erecting and retracting mechanism in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The actuating disc 43 would have secured thereto two tension drive rods 44 and 45 each of which contains therein wave-slap shockabsorbing springs 46 and 47. Disc 43 would be rotated by some convenient means as illustrated in the drawings for erection and retraction. The tension rods 44 and 45 incorporating the shock absorbing springs 46 and 47 would drive a disc member 48 which would be secured to shaft 5 in place of gear 21 so as to properly drive shaft 5 and its associated members for causing the erection and retraction of the antenna mast 2 and its associated antenna 1 in a manner previously described with respect to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

While I have described above the principles of my invention in connection with specific apparatus it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of my invention as set forth in the objects thereof and in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A mechanism to erect and retract a foldable antenna and its mast with respect to a base structure comprising:

an antenna;

an antenna mast;

a U-shaped member secured to said base structure, the open end of said U-shaped member extending away from said base structure;

a first shaft extending through the legs of said U- shaped member and the bottom of said mast, said first shaft being connected to the bottom of said mast to prevent said first shaft from rotating relative to the bottom of said mast;

a first pair of disc-like members secured to and nonrotatable upon said first shaft, each of said first pair of disc-like members being connected to a different one of the legs of said U-shaped member;

a second shaft extending through the top of said mast and the bottom of said antenna;

a second pair of disc-like members secured to said second shaft and the bottom of said antenna said second pair of disc-like members being nonrotatable about said second shaft;

a first pair of force transmitting members interconnecting said first and second pair of disc-like members for rotation of said second pair of disc-like members in a first given direction;

a second pair of force transmitting members interconnecting said first and second pair of disc-like members for rotation of said second pair of disclike members in a second given direction opposite to said first given direction; and

drive means connected to said first shaft to drive said shaft for control of the erection and retraction of said antenna mast and said antenna.

2. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second pairs of disc-like members includes a sheave.

3. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second pairs of disc-like members includes a drum.

4. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second pairs of disc-like members includes a sprocket.

5. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second pairs of force transmitting members includes a band.

6. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second pairs of force transmitting members includes a cable. 7. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second pairs of force transmitting members includes a chain. 8. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second pairs of force transmitting members includes a toothed belt. 9. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said drive means includes a winch cable connected to said mast, an actuating disc-like member connected to said first shaft,

an actuating force transmitting member having one end connected to said actuating disc-like member, and

an erecting spring having one end anchored to said base structure and the other end anchored to the other end of said actuating force transmitting member said actuating force transmitting member being wrapped around said actuating disc-like member when said antenna and said antenna mast are retracted by said winch cable to store energy in said erecting spring, said antenna and said an tenna mast being erected by said energy stored in said erecting spring.

10. A mechanism according to claim 9, wherein said actuating force transmitting member includes a cable.

11. A mechanism according to claim 9, wherein said actuating force transmitting member includes a chain.

12. A mechanism according to claim 9, wherein said actuating force transmitting member includes a band.

13. A mechanism according to claim I, wherein said drive means includes a bearing block,

a spline included in said bearing block,

a thrust bearing disposed at each end of said spline in contact with the adjacent surface of said bearing block,

a drive worm gear disposed on said spline intermediate said thrust bearings,

a driven worm gear meshed with said drive worm gear and connected to said first shaft,

a drive shaft connected to said spline, and

a drive package including a drive motor coupled to said drive shaft.

14. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said drive means includes a driven disc-like member, an acutating disc-like member connected to said first shaft, and

a pair of actuating force transmitting members interconnecting said driven disc-like member and said actuating disc-like member.

15. A mechanism according to claim 14, wherein each of said driven and actuating disc-like members includes a sheave.

16. A mechanism according to claim 14, wherein each of said driven and actuating disc-like members includes a drum.

17. A mechanism according to claim 14, wherein each. of said driven and actuating disc-like members includes a sprocket. 18. A mechanism according to claim 14, wherein each of said pair of actuating force transmitting members includes a band. 19. A mechanism according to claim 14, wherein each of said pair of actuating force transmitting members includes a chain. 20. A mechanism according to claim 14, wherein each of said pair of actuating force transmitting members includes a cable. 21. A mechanism according to claim 14, wherein each of said pair of actuating force transmitting members includes a toothed belt. 22. A mechanism according to claim 14, wherein each of said pair of actuating force transmitting members includes a tension drive rod. 23. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said base structure is a portion of the hull of a submarine antenna buoy. 24. A mechanism according to claim 23, wherein each of said first and second pairs of disc-like members includes a sheave. 25. A mechanism accordingto claim 23, wherein each of said first and second pairs of disc-like members includes a drum. 26. A mechanism according to claim 23, wherein each of said first and second pairs of disc-like members includes a sprocket. 27. A mechanism according to claim 23, wherein each of said first and second pairs of force transmitting members includes a band.

28. A mechanism according to claim 23, wherein each of said first and second pairs of force transmitting members includes a cable. 29. A mechanism according to claim 23, wherein each of said first and second pairs of force transmitting members includes a chain. 30. A mechanism according to claim 23, wherein each of said first and second pairs of force transmitting members includes a toothed belt. 31. A mechanism according to claim 23, wherein said drive means includes a winch cable connected to said mast, an actuating disc-like member connected to said first shaft, an actuating force transmitting member having one end connected to said actuating disc-like member, and an erecting spring having one end anchored to said base structure and the other end anchored to the other end of said actuating force transmitting member said actuating force transmitting member being wrapped around said actuating disc-like member when said antenna and said antenna mast are retracted by said winch cable to store energy in said erecting spring, said antenna and said antenna mast being erected by said energy stored in said erecting spring. 32. A mechanism according to claim 31, wherein said actuating force transmitting member includes a cable. 33. A mechanism according to claim 31, wherein said actuating force transmitting member includes a chain. 34. A mechanism according to claim 31, wherein said actuating force transmitting member includes a band. 35. A mechanism according to claim 23, wherein said drive means includes a bearing block, a spline included in said bearing block a thrust bearing disposed at each end of said spline in contact with the adjacent surface of said bearing block, a drive worm gear disposed on said spline intermediate said thrust bearings, a driven worm gear meshed with said drive worm gear and connected to said first shaft, a drive shaft connected to said spline, and a drive package including a drive motor coupled to said drive shaft. 36. A mechanism according to claim 35, further including a first wave-slap shock-absorbing spring disposed coaxial of said spline and between one of said thrust bearings and one end of said drive worm gear; and a second wave-slap shock-absorbing spring disposed coaxial of said spline and between the other of said thrust bearings and the other end of said drive worm gear. 37. A mechanism according to claim 23, wherein said drive means includes a driven disc-like member, an actuating disc-like member connected to said first shaft, and

a pair of actuating force transmitting members interconnecting said driven disc-like member and said actuating disc-like member.

38. A mechanism according to claim 37, further including a first wave-slap shock-absorbing spring incorporated in one of said pair of actuating force transmitting members; and

a second wave-slap shock-absorbing spring incorporated in the other of said pair of actuating force transmitting members.

39. A mechanism according to claim 37, wherein each of said driven and actuating disc-like members includes a sheave.

40. A mechanism according to claim 37, wherein each of said driven and actuating disc-like members includes a drum.

41. A mechanism according to claim 37, wherein each of said driven and actuating disc-like members includes a sprocket.

a cable. 45. A mechanism according to claim 37, wherein each of said pair of actuating force transmitting members includes a toothed belt.

46. A mechanism according to claim 37, wherein each of said pair of actuating force transmitting members includes a tension drive rod. 

1. A mechanism to erect and Retract a foldable antenna and its mast with respect to a base structure comprising: an antenna; an antenna mast; a U-shaped member secured to said base structure, the open end of said U-shaped member extending away from said base structure; a first shaft extending through the legs of said U-shaped member and the bottom of said mast, said first shaft being connected to the bottom of said mast to prevent said first shaft from rotating relative to the bottom of said mast; a first pair of disc-like members secured to and non-rotatable upon said first shaft, each of said first pair of disc-like members being connected to a different one of the legs of said U-shaped member; a second shaft extending through the top of said mast and the bottom of said antenna; a second pair of disc-like members secured to said second shaft and the bottom of said antenna said second pair of disc-like members being non-rotatable about said second shaft; a first pair of force transmitting members interconnecting said first and second pair of disc-like members for rotation of said second pair of disc-like members in a first given direction; a second pair of force transmitting members interconnecting said first and second pair of disc-like members for rotation of said second pair of disc-like members in a second given direction opposite to said first given direction; and drive means connected to said first shaft to drive said shaft for control of the erection and retraction of said antenna mast and said antenna.
 2. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second pairs of disc-like members includes a sheave.
 3. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second pairs of disc-like members includes a drum.
 4. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second pairs of disc-like members includes a sprocket.
 5. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second pairs of force transmitting members includes a band.
 6. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second pairs of force transmitting members includes a cable.
 7. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second pairs of force transmitting members includes a chain.
 8. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second pairs of force transmitting members includes a toothed belt.
 9. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said drive means includes a winch cable connected to said mast, an actuating disc-like member connected to said first shaft, an actuating force transmitting member having one end connected to said actuating disc-like member, and an erecting spring having one end anchored to said base structure and the other end anchored to the other end of said actuating force transmitting member said actuating force transmitting member being wrapped around said actuating disc-like member when said antenna and said antenna mast are retracted by said winch cable to store energy in said erecting spring, said antenna and said antenna mast being erected by said energy stored in said erecting spring.
 10. A mechanism according to claim 9, wherein said actuating force transmitting member includes a cable.
 11. A mechanism according to claim 9, wherein said actuating force transmitting member includes a chain.
 12. A mechanism according to claim 9, wherein said actuating force transmitting member includes a band.
 13. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said drive means includes a bearing block, a spline included in said bearing block, a thrust bearing disposed at each end of said spline in contact with the adjacent surface of said bearing block, a drive worm gear disposed on said spline intermediate said thrust bearings, a driven worm gear meshed with saiD drive worm gear and connected to said first shaft, a drive shaft connected to said spline, and a drive package including a drive motor coupled to said drive shaft.
 14. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said drive means includes a driven disc-like member, an acutating disc-like member connected to said first shaft, and a pair of actuating force transmitting members interconnecting said driven disc-like member and said actuating disc-like member.
 15. A mechanism according to claim 14, wherein each of said driven and actuating disc-like members includes a sheave.
 16. A mechanism according to claim 14, wherein each of said driven and actuating disc-like members includes a drum.
 17. A mechanism according to claim 14, wherein each of said driven and actuating disc-like members includes a sprocket.
 18. A mechanism according to claim 14, wherein each of said pair of actuating force transmitting members includes a band.
 19. A mechanism according to claim 14, wherein each of said pair of actuating force transmitting members includes a chain.
 20. A mechanism according to claim 14, wherein each of said pair of actuating force transmitting members includes a cable.
 21. A mechanism according to claim 14, wherein each of said pair of actuating force transmitting members includes a toothed belt.
 22. A mechanism according to claim 14, wherein each of said pair of actuating force transmitting members includes a tension drive rod.
 23. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said base structure is a portion of the hull of a submarine antenna buoy.
 24. A mechanism according to claim 23, wherein each of said first and second pairs of disc-like members includes a sheave.
 25. A mechanism according to claim 23, wherein each of said first and second pairs of disc-like members includes a drum.
 26. A mechanism according to claim 23, wherein each of said first and second pairs of disc-like members includes a sprocket.
 27. A mechanism according to claim 23, wherein each of said first and second pairs of force transmitting members includes a band.
 28. A mechanism according to claim 23, wherein each of said first and second pairs of force transmitting members includes a cable.
 29. A mechanism according to claim 23, wherein each of said first and second pairs of force transmitting members includes a chain.
 30. A mechanism according to claim 23, wherein each of said first and second pairs of force transmitting members includes a toothed belt.
 31. A mechanism according to claim 23, wherein said drive means includes a winch cable connected to said mast, an actuating disc-like member connected to said first shaft, an actuating force transmitting member having one end connected to said actuating disc-like member, and an erecting spring having one end anchored to said base structure and the other end anchored to the other end of said actuating force transmitting member said actuating force transmitting member being wrapped around said actuating disc-like member when said antenna and said antenna mast are retracted by said winch cable to store energy in said erecting spring, said antenna and said antenna mast being erected by said energy stored in said erecting spring.
 32. A mechanism according to claim 31, wherein said actuating force transmitting member includes a cable.
 33. A mechanism according to claim 31, wherein said actuating force transmitting member includes a chain.
 34. A mechanism according to claim 31, wherein said actuating force transmitting member includes a band.
 35. A mechanism according to claim 23, wherein said drive means includes a bearing block, a spline included in said bearing block a thrust bearing disposed at each end of said spline in contact with thE adjacent surface of said bearing block, a drive worm gear disposed on said spline intermediate said thrust bearings, a driven worm gear meshed with said drive worm gear and connected to said first shaft, a drive shaft connected to said spline, and a drive package including a drive motor coupled to said drive shaft.
 36. A mechanism according to claim 35, further including a first wave-slap shock-absorbing spring disposed coaxial of said spline and between one of said thrust bearings and one end of said drive worm gear; and a second wave-slap shock-absorbing spring disposed coaxial of said spline and between the other of said thrust bearings and the other end of said drive worm gear.
 37. A mechanism according to claim 23, wherein said drive means includes a driven disc-like member, an actuating disc-like member connected to said first shaft, and a pair of actuating force transmitting members interconnecting said driven disc-like member and said actuating disc-like member.
 38. A mechanism according to claim 37, further including a first wave-slap shock-absorbing spring incorporated in one of said pair of actuating force transmitting members; and a second wave-slap shock-absorbing spring incorporated in the other of said pair of actuating force transmitting members.
 39. A mechanism according to claim 37, wherein each of said driven and actuating disc-like members includes a sheave.
 40. A mechanism according to claim 37, wherein each of said driven and actuating disc-like members includes a drum.
 41. A mechanism according to claim 37, wherein each of said driven and actuating disc-like members includes a sprocket.
 42. A mechanism according to claim 37, wherein each of said pair of actuating force transmitting members includes a band.
 43. A mechanism according to claim 37, wherein each of said pair of actuating force transmitting members includes a chain.
 44. A mechanism according to claim 37, wherein each of said pair of actuating force transmitting members includes a cable.
 45. A mechanism according to claim 37, wherein each of said pair of actuating force transmitting members includes a toothed belt.
 46. A mechanism according to claim 37, wherein each of said pair of actuating force transmitting members includes a tension drive rod. 